Tear Duct, Blocked: Brief Version

What is a blocked tear duct?

Tears from the eye normally drain into the nose through the tear duct. If this duct is blocked, the tears spill over on the cheeks, even when a baby is not crying. This happens in 10% of young babies. Most of the time, only one tear duct is blocked.

Your baby may have a blocked tear duct when:

One eye is always watery.

Tears run down the face even when your baby does not cry.

When your baby cries, the nostril on the blocked side is still dry.

The eye on the blocked side is not red, and the eyelid is not swollen.

The problem usually starts before your child is 1 month old.

How can I take care of my child?

Most of the time, the tear duct will open by itself. Your doctor may tell you to massage the tear duct. To do this:

This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.